Ordered society

This photo shows the degree of order around a housing estate; the garages are all in a row; the cars are neatly parked between the lines in the parking area; the houses are all uniform, going either horizontally or vertically along the horizon; and boundary walls stretch as far as the eye can see. Society is structured to such an extent that houses are seldom found in random formations but rather in linear form, and generally situated in areas that are designated specifically for housing areas. Self-contained mini-societies are found within these areas and they form part of the whole but are also removed from the bigger picture to a certain degree; however, they still follow the rules and regulations that have been set in place by the hegemonic societal structure.

Creels

This picture of stacked creels says something of the person that stacked them, and about the society in which they find themselves. The creels are neatly stacked, possibly for the reason of optimising the space, but maybe also in order to be able to count them more effectively. The fact that the creels are stacked so neatly on the ground is unusual because they will still need to be transferred to a vehicle before they can be taken to the place of usage, in which case the neat stacking is irrelevant, since they will be moved once more before they can be utilised. This area of ground obviously belongs to a fisherman/fisherwoman and is a place for storage of items that are not currently in use. The open area suggests that crime is not a problem, because the creels are not fenced off to the general public.

Post box

Normal red letterbox style, either free-standing or set in to a wall, as seen here.



Although this letterbox shape opening in the wall has the words 'posting box' on it, society normally views a small rectangular slit/hole as a place in which to put mail. The fact that this one has the words on it is even more confounding because it is situated on the outside of a post office and has a stamp machine next to it. This could be ordering people to place their items within the post box should they have the correct postage already placed on the item, and thereby encouraging people not to enter the post office unless absolutely essential; or ensuring they do not bring non-essential items in for processing by the staff, thereby also cutting down the workload that the staff need to deal with. It is noted that the letter box area is somewhat larger than the average red letter box which is found either free-standing or sunk flush in to a wall in the streets around neighbourhoods.

Cycle route

These three barriers are normal of areas that are designed to slow people down. This refers to both pedestrians and to cyclists; this could be because the route adjoins a pavement, as seen at front/bottom of photo, however, there is an adjoining section further along the route, but there are no such barriers to be found there; so it could in fact be indicative of a cycle/pedestrian route. One dividing solid white line is all that 'orders' cyclists and pedestrians to remain on their designated side of the route; with the white symbol at either end of the route indicating which side they are in fact supposed to adhere to. This is not like a normal road system where the motorist drives on the left-hand side, because depending on the direction the cyclist takes the cyclist will end up cycling on the right-hand side of the route. Therefore, cyclists must adhere to a different form of 'order' whilst on cycle routes than they would normally adhere to whilst on the road.

Bike spaces

Low-level cycle rack.



Why are lined up, bent metal structures considered to be bike racks? In all areas where there are metal structures similar to the above, whether they are at ground level or of a decent height as in the photo, they are normally considered to be places to store a pushbike. There are no instructions to indicate that these bent metal rods are for the purpose of cycle storage/parking, but it is a commonly accepted thing in society that where metal structures of this nature are found lined up in a row, they are for the sole usage of the cyclist. The cyclist is directed toward placing their cycle by these structures, even though there is no reason that they need to, and in theory no law to make them comply with this unwritten rule, but where there are cycle racks, then generally speaking cyclists will comply by making use of the structures; even though the structures may not be suitable for the cycle in question.

Barriers

Barrier style indicates something specific; in this photo these are temporary barriers, so they are moveable items. The red and white style of broken paint-work is seen on items that suggest danger ahead, and where caution is needed. It may relate to the way in which society is taught to see the colour red as a danger or stop signal, or it may also be for reasons of visibility. The barriers are high enough to indicate that they should not be climbed, however, they are not solid and they do allow for people to get between the top and bottom should they so choose, although this is never deemed proper in society, and people will normally only ever comply by walking around the area; the white arrow on the blue circular background is a road sign but it is directed to the attention of pedestrians, since it is the pedestrian who is being directed to walk around, and not therefore meant for the purpose of instructing a motorist. In a way, it could be argued that the arrow sign is both irrelevant and superfluous, because the barrier makes it obvious that a pedestrian must walk around, in which case authority is being enforced here; and society is being informed as to what to do, even though common sense will dictate that they would have gone around the barriers anyway.

Traffic circle

Why do the cars go around a flat circle in the road? This vehicle can be clearly seen to have just gone around the traffic circle because the front tyres are still in the cornering mode. Vehicles will go to great lengths to miss crossing the circle even with their back tyres, this also includes large trucks. Trucks will approach very close to the pavement in order to 'go around' the white, very slightly raised circle, even when there are no other vehicles anywhere in sight. This could have been a reaction to having someone crouched, taking a photograph, as the vehicles went by, but this is an unlikely scenario. It is more likely that the larger roundabouts that exist elsewhere, have conditioned motorists to go around the item above; although this would not apply to people that have never driven anywhere but on the Orkney Mainland, so it can only be assumed that it is considered bad manners, or bad driving, if a driver in fact does refuse to go around the circle and instead decides to drive straight over it. This is a point of authoritarian control, where the rules of the Highway Code are adhered to by all motorists; the code is adhered to even when no other traffic is present, much in the same way as using an indicator when there is no other person/vehicle around to inform of a driver's intended action. The rules are so deeply ingrained in to the subconscious of the road user, that they are followed automatically and without necessary forethought.